Enhanced semiconductor switch

Abstract

An first embodiment relates to a device comprising: a first semiconductor switch; an integrated sensor for determining a current that passes the first semiconductor switch; and a terminal to which a signal is provided in case the current fulfills a predetermined condition. Also, a system comprising such device, and a method of operation are suggested.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A device comprising:
 a semiconductor switch; 
 a terminal; and 
 an integrated sensor configured to:
 receive a first signal from a microcontroller indicating that the microcontroller is entering an idle mode; 
 responsive to receiving the first signal, determine whether a current that passes the semiconductor switch fulfills a predetermined condition; and 
 responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, deliver a second signal to the terminal to wake up the microcontroller from the idle mode. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sensor is configured to deliver the second signal to the terminal in an idle mode of the device. 
     
     
       3. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the current reaches or exceeds a first threshold current. 
     
     
       4. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the predetermined condition is that the current reaches or falls below a first threshold current. 
     
     
       5. The device according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the semiconductor switch is a first semiconductor switch, and 
 wherein the integrated sensor comprises a second semiconductor switch. 
 
     
     
       6. The device according to  claim 5 , wherein the second semiconductor switch is arranged to provide a portion of the current that passes the first semiconductor switch. 
     
     
       7. The device according to  claim 5 ,
 wherein the second semiconductor switch and the first semiconductor switch are arranged as a current mirror, and 
 wherein the first semiconductor switch has a larger active area than the second semiconductor switch. 
 
     
     
       8. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is an integrated switching element. 
     
     
       9. The device according to  claim 1 , further comprising an enable terminal, via which the semiconductor switch can be switched on or off. 
     
     
       10. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the circuitry is further configured to control the semiconductor switch in case of an internal condition is met. 
     
     
       11. The device according to  claim 1 , wherein the device is used in an automotive environment. 
     
     
       12. The device of  claim 1 ,
 wherein the integrated sensor is configured to deliver the second signal to the terminal to initiate an interrupt at the microcontroller, and 
 wherein the interrupt causes the microcontroller to wake up from the idle state. 
 
     
     
       13. The device of  claim 1 , wherein the integrated sensor is further configured to:
 responsive to receiving the first signal, operate in a first power mode; 
 responsive to determining that the current does not fulfill the predetermined condition, continue to operate in the first power mode; and 
 responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, operate in a second power mode, the second power mode being different than the first power mode. 
 
     
     
       14. A system comprising:
 a processing unit; and 
 a device including:
 a semiconductor switch; 
 a terminal connected to the processing unit; and 
 an integrated sensor configured to:
 receive a first signal from the processing unit indicating that the processing unit is entering an idle mode; 
 responsive to receiving the first signal, determine whether a current that passes the semiconductor switch fulfills a predetermined condition; and 
 responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, deliver a second signal to the terminal, 
 wherein the device is configured to convey the signal from the terminal to the processing unit to wake up the processing unit from the idle mode. 
 
 
 
     
     
       15. The system according to  claim 14 , wherein the processing unit enables a fuse-characteristics by controlling the semiconductor switch of the device based on the current provided by the device. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 14 ,
 wherein the integrated sensor is configured to deliver the second signal to the terminal to initiate an interrupt at the processing unit, and 
 wherein the interrupt causes the processing unit to wake up from the idle state. 
 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the integrated sensor is further configured to:
 responsive to receiving the first signal, operate in a first power mode; 
 responsive to determining that the current does not fulfill the predetermined condition, continue to operate in the first power mode; and 
 responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, operate in a second power mode, the second power mode being different than the first power mode. 
 
     
     
       18. A method comprising:
 receiving a first signal from a processing unit indicating that the microcontroller is entering an idle mode; 
 responsive to receiving the first signal, determining, via a sensor, whether a current that passes a semiconductor device fulfills a predetermined condition, wherein the sensor and the semiconductor device are part of a single device; 
 responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, delivering a second signal to a processing unit; and 
 waking up the processing unit from the idle mode based on the second signal. 
 
     
     
       19. The method of  claim 18 , further comprising:
 initiating an interrupt at the processing unit based on the signal by delivering the second signal; and 
 causing the processing unit to wake up from the idle state based on the interrupt. 
 
     
     
       20. A device comprising:
 means for receiving a first signal from a processing unit indicating that the microcontroller is entering an idle mode; 
 means for determining, via a sensor, whether a current that passes a semiconductor device fulfills a predetermined condition, wherein the sensor and the semiconductor device are part of a single device; 
 means for, responsive to determining that the current fulfills the predetermined condition, delivering a second signal to a processing unit; and 
 means for waking up the processing unit from the idle mode based on the second signal.